Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has issued a stern warning to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur to cease its hard-hitting statements against Malaysia.

"If the rebukes keep coming from the relevant embassy, they will pay a heavy price.

"As an ambassador, he knows the source of his script," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur this evening.

He said the embassy must respect Malaysia's legal system, ethics and culture as well as the international diplomatic system.

Pyongyang has accused Malaysia of fabricating evidence and colluding with forces it considers hostile with regard to the murder of Kim Jong-nam.

Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was attacked with what authorities claim to be VX nerve agent at the KL International Airport 2 (KLIA 2) on Feb 13.

The North Korean ambassador to Malaysia Kang Chol had previously said that Malaysia was trying to hide something and was in cahoots with Pyongyang's enemies in this murder case.

This had been dismissed as baseless allegations by the Malaysian government.

North Korea and Malaysia are also engaged in a row over the body of the man believed to be Jong-nam.

Malaysian authorities have said that they will not release the body to North Korea until DNA samples to confirm Jong-nam's identity are received and tested.

Two women smeared a substance later identified as VX nerve agent on Jong-nam's face on Feb 13 at KLIA2, and he died on the way to Putrajaya Hospital.

He had been travelling using a passport bearing the name Kim Chol at that time.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister, confirmed today that so far, none of Jong-nam's next of kin has stepped forth to provide their DNA sample to identify the body.

However, he said, there are other means to obtain the DNA samples needed to identify the body.

The two foreign women were charged in court on Wednesday with his murder.

If they are found guilty of the charge under Section 302 of the Penal Code, they will face the death penalty.

Meanwhile, a North Korean individual who was detained in connection with Jong-nam's death was released and will be deported later today, Ahmad Zahid said.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali had previously said they do not have sufficient evidence to charge the man.

Ahmad Zahid said the North Korean individual has been blacklisted and will not be allowed to return to Malaysia.

"He is diplomatically unwanted by this country, that is why the deportation has to take place.

"The Malaysian government has to be firm as we do not want countries that we have diplomatic ties with to take advantage of us and use Malaysia as a hub for them to commit their hidden agenda," he said.